Compare towns
Topsham vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.7%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Topsham | Brewer |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 7,271Lowest |
9,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.9Highest about the ME average |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Topsham and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $100,024±$18kHighest 34% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,500±$24kHighest 31% above ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,491±$1kHighest 31% above ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
| Topsham and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,431Highest 46% above ME |
$3,374Lowest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.5%±14.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 3% below ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.